Olde Hornet
Well-Known Member
While you can't put a price on making memories from a dream trip overseas, there's also no reason to spend money on fees you can easily avoid.
Here are six tips for keeping costs low and managing your money during your next trip abroad.
1. Try to minimize transaction costs
Credit and debit card issuers may charge foreign-transaction fees—which can run to as much as 3% of the value of your purchases, according to data from NerdWallet—as well as ATM fees. That might seem like a minor expense on a per-transaction basis, but those extra charges can really add up if you're executing multiple transactions per day.Your overall cost could comprise two fees: one from the bank that issued the card and one from the card company (i.e., the card network, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover). So, be sure you understand what fees your bank and credit card companies charge. And note that even if you have a fee-free card, ATMs or merchants may still charge a fee. Always check your card's terms and conditions to find out exactly what fees you're responsible for.